Excavator.



Patented Oct. 5, 1909. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. P. KERR. EXGAVATOR. APPLIOATIONIILED SEPTJQ, 1908.

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J. P. KERR. EXGAVA'IOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1908.

935,992. Patented 0011.5, 1909.

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EXGAVATOR.

APPLICATION .I'ILBD SBPT.19,1908.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q Vitweoozo JOSEPH P. KERR, OF VERSAILLES, ILLINOIS.

EXCAVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

Application filed September 19, 1908. Serial No. 453,869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. KERR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Versailles, in the county of Brown, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavators; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in excavators, and it hasfor its principal object the production of a comparatively simple andexceedingly efficient machine of that class provided with an elevatordriven in such a manner as to discharge the dirt from the same side ofthe machine irrespective of the direction in which the latter istraveling, this feature being of great importance in the construction oflevees, for which work the machine is especially designed. To this end,the sprocket chains which effect the movement of the elevator are drivenfrom a pair of sprockets mounted upon a shaft which is provided with apair of pinions slidable thereupon and disposed upon opposite sides of amain pinion carried by a continuously rotating shaft operativelyconnected with the drive axle of the machine, one or the other of thesliding pinions being arranged for the movement into mesh with theabovementioned main pinion according as the machine is traveling in onedirection or the other, as a result of which construction, it will beapparent that the movement of the elevator will be in the same directionin both instances. Such construction, however, necessitates a shiftingof the plow, since the latter must be turned to one side when themachine moves in one direction, in order to throw the dirt upon theelevator, and to the other side when the ma chine moves in the oppositedirection.

The invention therefore further resides in the provision of a disk plowshiftable from side to side of the frame in which it is mounted andoperated by a lever carrying a pawl arranged for engagement with one orthe other of a pair of racks secured to said frame.

The invention still further resides in the provision of an outerelevator section operatively connected with the main section or elevatorproper, and driven at a speed approximately three times that of thelatter,

whose weight is also considerably greater than that of the outersection, the purpose of this construction being to obviate the necessityof extending the upper end of the main elevator beyond the adjacent sideof the machine to any appreciable extent, and to dispense with the useof long driving chains.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated bythe same reference characters throughout the several views.

Of the said'drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the complete machine.Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 8 is a transverse section takenupon the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section takenon the line 4ll of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A designates, generally,the frame of the machine, B and C the main and outer sections of theelevator, and D the plow mechanism. The frame, as shown in Fig. 1, isrectangular and includes front and rear end bars 1 and 2, left and righthand side bars 3 and at, and a bar 5 disposed parallel with and inspaced relation to the bar Al. The bars 3, 4 and 5 are further connectedby a pair of spaced parallel cross bars 6, the front cross bar havingsecured thereto a forwardly-extending arcuate frame 7 upon which thedrivers seat 8 is mounted. The front bar 1 has pivotally connectedthereto the front axle 9 to whose ends are secured the ground wheels 10,the swinging movement of the front axle being effected by a chain 11,the central portion of which is Wound around a drum 12, secured to thelower end of the steering rod 15, whose upper end extends within easyreach of the occupant of the seat 8 and is provided at such point with ahand wheel. The rear axle 16 has its ends journaled in bearings carriedby the bars 3, 4 and 5, and is provided at one end with a loose groundwheel 17 and at the other end with the drive wheel 18 keyed or otherwisesecured thereto, the last-mentioned wheel fitting between the rear endsof the bars 4 and 5. The rear axle is further provided with a main drivesprocket 19 connected by a chain 20 with a smaller sprocket 21 securedto the short transverse shaft 22, journaled in bearings carried by thebars fl: and 5, these hearings being located between the cross bars 6.At its outer or right hand end, the shaft 22 carries a large beveledpinion 23 which is arranged to mesh with and drive one or the other of apair of smaller pinions 2% slidable upon a longitudinal shaft 25 journaled in bearings fastened to the projecting right hand ends of thecross beams. Each of the sliding pinions has its hub portion formed witha groove embraced by the yoke end of a rod 26, the inner ends of saidrods being pivoted to an operating lever 27 disposed. longitudinally ofthe machine and located between said bars l and 5, the for ward end ofthe lever being formed with a series of perforations 28 arranged tointerchangeably receive a removable bolt 29, whose lower end fits in aperforation formed in the forward cross bar. At its forward end, thelever 27 terminates in an operating handle. The rods 26 are pivotedintermediate their ends to the bar 4t, owing to which construction, itwill be apparent that when the lever is moved in one direction, theforward pinion will be moved out of mesh with the pinion 23, and therear pinion 2i engaged with the latter, the lever being retained againstdisplacement by means of the pin 29 which is fitted in the properperforation. Movement of said lever in the opposite direction willrelease the rear pinion from and reengage the front pinion with thepinion 23.

The main section B of the elevator which is disposed transversely of themachine and directly above the cross bars (3 is provided with upper andlower shafts 30 and 31 having respectively secured thereto, pulleys and33, the former of which has a greater diameter than the latter. Aroundthese pulleys passes a belt 3ft, the ends of said shafts extendingthrough openings formed in the sides of the elevator frame, which lattercarries a series of shafts disposed intermediate of and parallel withthe shafts 30 and 31. These intermediate shafts are provided withrollers across which the belt likewise travels. The shaft 30 has securedto one end thereof, a sprocket 7% connected by a chain 35 with asprocket 36 secured to the shaft 25, the rotation of the last-mentionedshaft effecting the movement of the elevator, as will be apparent. Thegear and sprocket connections between the main elevation section orelevator proper, and the .rear axle, are so proportioned that the speedof the elevator is approximately equal to that of the drive wheel 18.

The plow mechanism D above referred to, consists primarily, of a pivotedU-shaped frame 37, and a rotatable cutting disk 38. The frame 37 has thefree ends of its legs pivotally secured to the lower ends of a pair ofdepending hangers 39, fastened at their upper ends to the under side ofthe bar 3. The frame legs have further pivoted thereto, the lower endsof a pair of vertical links 42,

whose upper ends are similarly fastened to the outer ends of a pair ofhorizontal arms 4:3, which are rigidly secured at their inner ends tothe ends of alongitudinal rock shaft stat mounted in bearings carried bythe frame side 3. The movement of this shaft is effected by a lever 4:5,whose lower end is rigidly fastened thereto, said lever carrying aspringpressed pawl d6, arranged for engagement with a rack &7 which islikewise fastened to the bar 3, the provision of the lever permittingthe plow disk to be forced the requisite distance into the ground orraised thereabove as will be apparent, the frame 37 being held inadjusted position, owing to the provision of the rack and pawlmechanism.

The disk 38 above referred to, is rotatably mounted upon the lower armof an L-shaped shaft 48, whose vertical arm projects upwardly through avertical opening formed in the free end of a bearing 49, which projectslaterally toward the bar 3 from the bight portion of the frame 37, saidshaft being held against displacement in any preferred manner. To theprojecting upper end of the shaft 48, is secured a lever 50 by means ofwhich the position of the disk is reversed, said lever carrying aspring-pressed pawl 51, arranged for engagement with a pair ofoutwardly-projecting racks 52, which are likewise bolted to the bightportion of said frame and are disposed at opposite sides of the bearing49. The lever 50 is further provided with a scraper 53, the edge ofwhose plate contacts with the inner or concave face of the disk, thecurved stem of the scraper being secured to the lever.

The frame 37 has its legs connected by a cross-bar -7 5 disposeddirectly above and in line with the elevator-shaft 31, said bar beingfastened to the lower end. of the elevator frame by depending adjustablestraps 7 3, as a result of which construction, it will be apparent thatthe lower end of the elevator will likewise be raised or lowered withsaid frame when the latter is moved in one direction or the other by thelever 45.

The outer section C of the elevator has its lower end disposed beneaththe upper or discharge end of the main section, as shown in Fig. 3. Thisouter section, whose weight is considerably less than that of the mainsection is disposed at the right hand side of the machine and projectslaterally beyond the same. Like the main section B, the sides of itsframe are provided at their opposite ends with alining openings whichreceive the enos of the upper and lower shafts 54: and which carry thepulleys 56 and 57 around which travels a belt 58, upon which the dirtfalls from the discharge end of the main elevator. The lower pulley 57has a greater diameter than the upper pulley. The lower shaft 55 isfurther provided at one end with a sprocket 59 connected by a chain 60with a lUO sprocket (31, secured to the shaft 25, the movement of thesection C being thus effected. The gear connections between the twosections, however, are so proportioned that the speed of the outersection is approximately three times that of the main section, whichlatter carries at its discharge end a shoe or funnel-shaped guide ()2which directs the advancing column of dirt onto the central portion ofthe belt 58. The section C likewise includes a series of intermediateshafts, each of which has a roller secured thereto, the belt 58traveling across these rollers.

The outer elevator has its lower shaft journaled in openings formed in apair of depending brackets 77, secured to the cross bars (l and locateddirectly beneath the brackets 78 in which the shaft 30 is journaled. Thesides of the frame of this outer conveyer have secured thereto, theouter ends of a pair of cables ('14, which are trained over a pair ofgrooved pulleys 6:5, revolubly mounted upon a rod 66 which connects theupper ends of a pair of standards (57, which are likewise bolted to thecross bars 6. The inner ends of said ables are secured to a drum 79carried by a shaft 80, whose opposite ends are jourualed in bearingscarried by said cross bars. The rotation of this shaft is effected by arod (38, provided at its lower end with a worm G9 which engages a wormgear 70 carried by the shaft 80, the upper end of said rod carrying ahand wheel. This construction, as will be apparent, admits of the outerend of the elevator section C being raised or lowered at will.

The machine propelled either by draft animals or by a traction engine,as preferred. in the first instance, the animals are hitched to awhillle tree 71 located at each end of the frame.

The operation of the machine is as follows. The plow disk having beenadjusted to position to discharge the dirt turned up thereby onto themain elevator, the frame 3.) is lowered to cause the disk to penetratethe ground to the requisite depth, after which the proper sliding pinion24 is moved into engagement with the drive pinion 23. During themovement of the machine toward the end of the levee or embankment, thedirt turned up by the plow disk will be discharged onto the mainelevator and thence to the outer elevator section. When the end of thelevee is reached, the d aft animals or engine, as the case may be, isconnected with the other end of the machine frame and the machine movedtoward the opposite end of the elevator. Prior to the return movement ofthe machine, the position of the plow is reversed, and the other pinion9A thrown into mesh with the pinion it will be apparent, therefore, thatthe dirt will be discharged from the machine upon the same sideirrespective of the direction in which the frame which carries the diskmay be raised or lowered, to adjust the position of the disk withrespect to the ground, and that the discharge end of the outer elevatormay likewise be raised or lowered. The machine is steered during itstravel by the rod 15 and the cable connection 11 between the latter andthe swinging front axle.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination in an excavator, of a frame; an upwardly-inclinedelevator carried thereby; means for driving the elevator; a plow locatedat the foot of said ele vator; a rotatable shaft upon which the plow ismounted; and a lever secured to the shaft for rotating the same ineither direc tion, to swing the plow bodily to one side or the other forreversing the position of the latter with respect to said elevator.

2. The combination in an excavator, of a frame; a transverselydisposed-upwardly inclined elevator carried thereby; means for drivingthe elevator; a plow located at the foot of said elevator; a rotatableshaft upon which theplow is mounted; a lever secured to said shaft forrotating the same in either direction,-to swing the plow bodily to oneside or the other for reversing the position of the latter with respectto said elevator; and devices ar 'anged for engagement with said leverto retain the plow in adjusted position.

3. The combination in an excavator, of a main frame; atransversely-disposed upwardly inclined elevator carried thereby; meansfor driving the elevator; a supplemental frame connected to one of thesides of the main frame; a bearing secured to one member of thesupplemental frame and formed with an opening; a shaft journaled in saidopening; a plow mounted upon said shaft and located at the foot of saidelevator; and a lever secured to said shaft for rotating the same ineither direction, to swing the plow bodily to one side or the other forreversing the position of the latter with respect to said elevator.

i. The combination in an excavator, of a main frame; atransversely-disposed upwardly inclined elevator carried thereby; meansfor driving the elevator; a supplc mental frame connected to one of thesides of the main frame; a bearing secured to one member of thesupplemental frame and formed with an opening; a shaft ournaled in saidopening; a plow mounted upon said shaft and located at the foot of saidelevator; means for maintaining the direction of movement of theelevator constant, to discharge the dirt delivered thereto hy the plowfrom the same side of the machine, irrespective of the direction inwhich the latter travels; and a lever secured to the shaft for rotatingthe same in either direction, to swing the plow bodily to one side orthe other for reversing the position of the latter with respect to saidelevator.

5. The combination in an excavator, of a main frame; atransversely-disposed upwardly inclined elevator carried thereby; meansfor driving the elevator; a supplemental frame connected to one of thesides of the main frame; a bearing secured to one member of thesupplemental frame and formed with an opening; a shaft journaled in saidopening; a plow mounted upon said shaft and located at the foot of saidelevator; means for maintaining the direction of movement of theelevator constant, to discharge the dirt delivered thereto by the plowfrom the same side of the machine, irrespec tive of the direction inwhich the latter travels; a lever secured to the shaft for rotating thesame in either direction, to swing the plow bodily to one side or theother for reversing the position of the latter with respect to saidelevator; and devices arranged for engagement with said lever to retainthe plow in adjusted position.

G. The combination in an excavator, of a frame; a transversely-disposedupwardly incliued elevator carried thereby; means for driving theelevator; a single cutting member connected with the frame and locatedat the foot of said elevator; means for swing ing said member bodilyfrom one side to the other to deliver dirt thereto in either position;and means for maintaining the direction of motion of the elevatorconstant, to discharge the dirt from the same side of the machine.

7. The combination in an excavator, of a frame; a transversely-disposedupwardly inclined elevator carried thereby; means for driving theelevator; a single rotatablv mounted cutting member connected with theframe and located at the foot of said elevator; means for swinging saidmember bodily from one side to the other, to deliver dirt thereto ineither position; and means for maintaining the direction of motion ofthe elevator constant, to discharge the dirt fro-1n the same side of themachine.

8. The combination in an excavator, of a frame; a transverselydisposedupwardly in clined elevator carried thereby; means for driving theelevator; a single revoluble cutting disk connected with the frame andlocated at the foot of the elevator; means for swinging said disk bodilyfrom one side to the other, to deliver dirt thereto in either position;and means for maintaining the direction of motion of the elevatorconstant, to discharge the dirt from the same side of the machine.

9. The combination in an excavator, of a frame; a transverselydisposedupwardly inclined elevator carried thereby; means for driving theelevator; a revoluble cutting disk located at the foot of said elevator;a rotatable shaft upon which said disk is mounted; and a lever securedto said shaft for rotating the same in either direction, to swing saiddisk bodily from one side to the other, to deliver dirt thereto ineither position.

10. The combination, in an excavator, of a frame; an axle carried by theframe and provided with a traction wheel; a shaft carried by the frameand disposed parallel with the axle, driving connections between saidshaft and axle; a shaft disposed at right angles to the first-mentionedshaft; a transversely-disposed upwardly-inclined elevator carried bysaid frame; a pinion secured to the first-mentioned shaft; a pair ofsliding pinions carried'by the lastmentioned shaft; means for moving oneor the other of the sliding pinions into mesh with the first-mentionedpinion; driving connections between the elevator and said last-mentionedshaft; a plow carried by said frame and located at the foot of saidelevator; and means for re versing the position of said plow withrespect to said elevator.

11. The combination, in an excavator, of a main frame; an axle carriedby said frame and provided with a traction wheel; a shaftdisposedparallel with the axle; driving con nections between said shaft andaxle; a pin ion carried by said shaft; a shaft disposed at right anglesto the first-mentioned shaft; a pair of sliding pinions carried by thelastmentioned shaft; means for sliding one or the other of said pinionsinto mesh with the first-mentioned pinion; a transversely-disposediipwardly-inelined elevator carried by the frame; driving connectionsbetween the elevator and the last mentioned shaft; a frame suspendedfrom one of the sides of the main frame; a plow carried by the lastmentioned frame and located at the foot of the elevator; and means forswinging the plow bodily from one side to the other of its frame, toreverse its position with respect to the elevator.

12. The combination, in an excavator, of a main frame; an axle carriedby the frame and provided with a traction wheel; a shaft disposedparallel with the axle; driving connections between the shaft and theaxle; a

pinion secured to said shaft; a shaft disposed at right angles to thefirst-mentioned shaft; a pair of sliding pinions carried by said shaftdisposed upon opposite sides of the first-mentioned pinion; means forshifting one or the other of said sliding pinions into mesh with saidfirst-mentioned pinion: a transversely disposed up 'ardly inclinedelevator carried by said frame; driving connections between the elealter and said lastmentioned shaft; a swinging framesnspended from oneof the sides of the main frame and having the foot of the elevatorconnected thereto; a swinging plow carried by the last-mentioned frame;and means for swinging the plow bodily from one side to the other of itsframe, to reverse its position with respect to the elevator.

13. The combination, in an excavator, of a frame; an upwardly-inclinedtransverselydisposed main elevator carried by the frame; anupwardly-inclined elevator having its lower end pivoted to the frame anddisposed beneath the upper end of the firstmentioned elevator; a plowcarried by the frame and located at the foot of the main elevator; meansfor driving said elevators; and separate means for raising and loweringthe lower end of the main elevator and the upper end of the lastmentioned elevator.

1-1. The combination, in an excavator, of a. frame; an upwardly-inclinedtransverselydisposed main elevator carried thereby; an upwardly-inclinedelevator disposed in alinement with the main elevator and having itslower end pivoted to the frame; a plow carried by the frame and locatedat the foot of the main elevator; means for driving said elevators;means for maintaining the direction of motion of said main elevator,constant to discharge the dirt delivered thereto by the plow; andseparate means for raising and lowering the lower end of the mainelevator and the outer end of the last-mentioned elevator.

The combination, in an excavator, of a main frame; a swinging framesuspended from one of the sides of the main frame; a

plow carried by the swinging frame; a transversely disposed upwardlyinclined elevator carried by the main frame and having its footconnected to the swinging frame; means for driving the elevator; meansfor maintaining the direction of motion of the elevator constant, todischarge the dirt delivered thereto by the plow from the same side ofthe machine irrespective of the direction in which the latter travels;and means for raising and lowering said swinging frame.

16. The combination, in an excavator, of a main frame; a swinging framesuspended from one of the sides of the main frame; a plow carried by theswinging frame; a transversely disposed upwardly inclined elevatorcarried by the main frame and having its foot connected to the swingingframe; means for driving the elevator; means for swinging the plowbodily to reverse its position with respect to the elevator; and meansfor raising and lowering said swinging frame.

17. The combination, in an excavator, of a main frame; a swinging framesuspended from one of the sides of the main frame; a

plow carried by the swinging flame; a transversely disposed upwardlyinclined elevator carried by the main frame and having its footconnected to the swinging frame; means for driving the elevator; meansfor maintaining the direction of movement of the elevator constant, todischarge the dirt delivered thereto by the plow from the same side ofthe machine irrespective of the direction in which the latter travels;means for swinging the plow bodily to reverse its position with respectto the elevator; and means for raising and lowering said swinging frame.

18. T he combination, in an excavator, of a main frame; a framesuspended from the main frame; an upwardly inclined elevator carried bythe main frame; a swinging disk plow rotatably carried by the lastmentioned frame; means for driving the elevator; and means for swingingthe plow from one side to the other of said last mentioned frame, toreverse its position with respect to the elevator.

19. The combination, in an excavator, of a main frame; a frame suspendedfrom the main frame; an upwardly inclined elevator carried by the mainframe; means for driving the elevator; a swinging disk plow carried bythe last mentioned frame and located at the foot of the elevator; a pairof racks carried by the last mentioned frame; and a lever connected tosaid plow and provided with a pawl arranged for engagement with one orthe other of said racks for swinging said plow bodily from one side ofsaid last mentioned frame to the other, to reverse the position of theplow with respect to the elevator.

20. The combination, in an excavator, of a main frame; a frame suspendedfrom the main f time; a bearing carried by the last mentioned frame; anL-shaped shaft journaled in said bearing; a plow disk rotatably mountedupon said shaft; an upwardly inclined elevator carried by the main frameand having its foot located adjacent said disk; means for driving theelevator; an operating lever secured to said shaft, for swinging saiddisk bodily from one side of the last mentioned frame to the other, toreverse its position with respect to the elevator; a pair of rackscarried by said last mentioned frame and located upon opposite sides ofsaid bearing; and a pawl carried by said lever and arranged forengagement with one or the other of said racks to retain said disk inadjusted position.

In testimony whereof, I atlix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH P. KERR. Vitnesses A. O. MoCoY, G. TARRANT.

